Still have amateurs running your IT?

We take lots of technology for granted today. And one major piece of technology we just “assume will be there” is our smartphone. We use it for email, texting, Facebook, SnapChat, fetching a ride, settling an argument, playing games, and a hundred other things. It contains all of our contacts and LOTS of really important photos.

So it can be unnerving when our phone is lost. There are really three kinds of “lost.”

First there’s misplaced. It’s really between the seat cushions or you left it in the car. But for the moment it’s lost. We’re not going to discuss this kind of lost.

Second there’s broken. A broken phone is a sad thing because you can hold it in your hand and know all your data is there somewhere. You just can get it. The obvious first thought is to find someone who can retrieve your data. When that happens, it almost doesn’t matter what it costs.

Finally, there’s gone. A phone is gone when it’s stolen, dropped down a canyon, etc. In other words, you know for a fact you’ll never see it again. But in this case, someone else might find that phone. With your contacts, your pictures, you banking app, and all your other data. If you’ve connected it to work data, then they might have access to that as well.

Here are some tips for protecting yourself and your phone.

1. Back it up!

As far as I know, every phone and every cell service provider has a way to back up your data. Use that tool! Don’t delay. Don’t forget. Don’t make excuses about why you’re not doing it. Do it.

If you want a better tool, or you want help doing this, contact your technology consultant. They tend to have really good options for backup and data recovery. After all, the one that comes free with the phone is free for a reason.

2. Document it.

This seems like overkill – until your phone is lost or stolen. Just as you should have a list of all the cards in your wallet so you can report them missing, you should have a list of all the accounts accessed by your phone without a password. If you save passwords, someone might be able to use your phone to access your bank accounts, PayPal, company email, and lots of other stuff. Take inventory. If you lose your phone, you’ll be in a high stress situation and you probably won’t remember all the accounts accessible from that phone.

3. Brick it.

Any good technology consultant can help you set up a system to “brick” your phone. Some call it a “remote wipe” of the phone. Basically, it means they can push a button and delete all the data on the phone. Yes, your pictures are gone forever, but so is your unencrypted password list, you company email, and all the other secure information on that phone.

Sometimes, remote wipe capability is already built into your email service. For example, this is often enabled if you have a hosted Microsoft Exchange mailbox. If nothing else, have a conversation with your technology consultant and see what you have and what you can get.

4. Manage it.

Many technology consultants offer something called Mobile Device Management. They may be able to track your phone, verify that it is protected from viruses, back it up every day, and perform a remote wipe if necessary. This is usually a super cheap option.

The bottom line: You never have to panic if your phone dies, or is lost or stolen. With a little preparation, you can feel confident that all your pictures and data are save, and that your bank accounts and company emails are safe as well. Yes, it’s still a hassle. But it’s a lot LESS of a hassle if you take a few extra steps.

Think of these things as a type of “insurance” for the data on your phone.

Ask you technology consultant what you already have and what they recommend going forward.